July 6, 2010

(Edit: I’ve chosen this Peach Cobbler photo as my entry into Simply…Gluten Free’s GF Food Photo Contest. I’m anxious to see all the tasty-looking photos of Gluten Free recipes when Carol posts the round-up on September 30th! Wish me luck!!!)

During a recent trip to my local fruit market, I found peaches on sale. The sign actually said “We’re Practically Giving These Away” and they were! Only 49 cents a pound! Well, I’m usually really more of a nectarine gal (just somthing about the fuzz, I guess), but I just had to fill up a bag to bring home. These gems sat on my counter in a bowl for a few days and each day while I worked nearby, I’d catch a waft of their aroma. I knew they were ripe and ready. But what to make? I thought about peach muffins, but finally decided on a cobbler. Now, I’ve never made a cobbler before that I can recall – gluten free or otherwise – but I have done crisps and of course they are very similar. So, I glanced at a few recipes to get some ideas and set to work on that night’s dessert:

Peel and slice peaches. To do this easily, I simply cut each fruit in half, twisted to pull the halves apart, and popped the pit out with my thumb. Then I halved each half again, and carefully peeled the skin off each quarter before finishing slicing. I lost very little peach this way, as opposed to using a knife to try to peel them. Of course, it really helped that the peaches were plenty ripe! Once they are sliced, place into a bowl adding 1/2 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp brown rice flour mix*.

First using a pastry cutter, then your fingers, cut butter into flour mixture.

You’ll want it to resemble coarse cornmeal, like this:

In a glass measuring cup, combine 1/2 cup buttermilk (or regular milk mixed with 1 tsp lemon juice) with 1/2 tsp vanilla. Pour into flour mixture and mix gently to just combine. It will look lumpy, but do NOT overmix.

Scoop dough mixture onto top of peaches, leaving some areas naked. Drizzle 2 Tbsp melted butter over exposed areas and then sprinkle the whole top with 2 Tbsp brown sugar.

Let sit for 20-30 minutes while you preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Place into oven and bake 40-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the peaches bubbly.

Remove from oven and cool until just warm.

To serve, scoop a generous portion into a bowl and top with vanilla ice cream. SO YUM!

To demonstrate how good this actually is, I had this for breakfast again this morning, after having it for dessert last night! I just popped my bowl into the microwave for about 20 seconds to warm the cobbler, before scooping the ice cream on top (Breyer’s French Vanilla is the best!). When the smooth vanilla ice cream starts to gently melt over the sweet peaches and crumbly topping, I just cannot wait for that first spoonful!